Servant Events add new components

Beginning in November, the 2008 round of LCMS Servant Events for youth and adult leaders features construction, human care, outreach, and environmental projects at Lutheran camps, churches, schools, and social service organizations in the United States and Mexico.

LCMS District and Congregational Services — Youth Ministry continues to sponsor the Synod Servant Events it first offered in 1982. For complete information — including how to register — go to www.lcms.org/youth and click on “Servant Events.”

The new year’s theme, “A Servant’s Heart,” is reflected in Bible studies and devotions for those engaged in acts of service. Written by Sue Steege, a director of Christian education from Buffalo, N.Y., the material will be available in November through that Web address.

“We are excited to see the number of Servant sites increasing,” said James Lohman, associate director for LCMS Youth Ministry — Servant Events. In addition, he said that many host sites for events in years past are adding new components and formats for upcoming events.

Lohman said that first-time hosts for 2008 “are adding more events, family-based events are on the increase, and weekend events are planned for the fall, winter, and spring. We are also adding more events with international partner organizations.”

Among new offerings will be an LCMS Youth Ministry-hosted Servant Event at Camp Restore, an LCMS base in New Orleans for those helping to rebuild the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast.

With more details about this special event planned within the coming months, Lohman suggested that groups interested in Gulf Coast recovery service contact LCMS Southern District Disaster Relief through its Web site, http://www.lcms.relief.org.

Lohman also said that Lutherhaven Ministries of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, is adding “guest speakers and adventure elements to the weeklong Servant Event program it has offered for many years,” and that other LCMS sites are “doing the same.”

“Nothing kindles Christian growth more than putting faith into action,” said Bob Baker, Lutherhaven’s executive director. “We’re putting a Lutheran spin on popular and proven work-camp formulas so that youth hear God’s Word, see God’s Word, do God’s Word, and live God’s Word.”

The Servant Event information at www.lcms.org/youth is organized by event type, location, and date.

“[Servant] Events — especially those with a long history — fill up quickly,” said Lohman, who encouraged groups “to visit the Web site soon to make their choices. But rest assured,” he added, [that] “we have plenty of spaces for all those desiring to serve.”